PRO BASKETBALL

PRO BASKETBALL; Coleman Will Stick To All-Star Business

By AL HARVIN

Published: February 11, 1994

This should be a happy time for Willis Reed. Four of the players he has drafted in his five seasons as general manager of the Nets are on their way to the National Basketball Association All-Star weekend in Minneapolis. But one of them, Derrick Coleman, is still unsigned. And there's the rub.

"I'd rather not say where the negotiations are now, because I've put my foot in my mouth many times on this deal," Reed said after New Jersey's 106-95 victory over Cleveland in the Meadowlands on Wednesday night brought the Nets record to 22-24 at the All-Star break. "I thought we had a deal at one time, so we're still trying to get him signed."

The deal Reed thought he had with his 6-foot-10-inch power forward before this season was a five-year contract extension for a reported $35 million. Then Larry Johnson signed an eight-year extension for $68 million with Charlotte and suddenly all deals were off.

Within a week, Coleman had turned down an offer of $69 million for an eight-year extension, and recently there were rumors that he and Reed had agreed to a nine-year $90 million deal that needed only ownership approval. Reed denied that was the case. What to Do?

There is no denying that Coleman can become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, though, and Reed has vowed to either sign him or trade him by the Feb. 24 trading deadline, so the Nets can get something for him. After next season, he will be an unrestricted free agent.

"For us, it's better to have him signed than to talk about trading him, so that's what we're working to do," Reed said before leaving for Minneapolis.

Coleman and Kenny Anderson, the Nets' point guard, will also be in Minneapolis, both having been voted to start for the Eastern Conference team by the fans. Also playing for the East will be Mookie Blaylock of the Atlanta Hawks, whom Reed drafted before trading him. In addition, P. J. Brown of the Nets, chosen by Reed in the draft last year, has been selected to play in the rookie All-Star game tomorrow.

Coleman says he knows he is going to be subjected to questions about his situation by the national news media at the All-Star Game and says he knows how he plans to handle it.

"I just have no comment on the contract situation," Coleman said. "If you want to talk basketball, I'm open. I'll talk all day about the game of basketball, but I think the contract is something personal and I don't feel I have to comment on it at all."

That apparently goes ditto for Coleman's Detroit-based agent, Harold MacDonald, who did not return a call to his office yesterday. Anticipating No Problems

Coleman, the Nets' leading scorer and rebounder this season, has maintained that just because he turned down an offer of $69 million doesn't mean he is unhappy playing with the Nets. He is confident he will be able to handle the finger-pointing.

"I've always been able to handle adversity throughout my career here," said Coleman. "My first year it was living up to the expectations. My second year it was the disputes with Coach Bill Fitch. My third year it was being upset over not making the All-Star team and now this.

"My whole four years here I've been dealing with adversity. It's something that once I step on the court I block totally out of my mind because playing basketball, that's my freedom, that's my release to get away from everything. That's what I concentrate on."

Coleman, in fact, seemed to be looking forward to spending the second half of the season in New Jersey.

"For me personally, playing in the All-Star Game is great but it's not like trying to get back in the playoffs," he said.

But the question facing the Nets is whether Coleman will still be a member of the team by playoff time.